Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-04-08

CHAPTER XIII, CONTINUED.
Did they have a cat at their houses
Yes, certainly, and litter went round
the room, making the hairy mole on
Mother Tartrum's chin tremble. Did
they have kitten? The prosecuting
attorney did not see that this was rele-
want, but the justice did. Yes. they
had kitten How old was the kitten!
Four or five months old Was it very
playful kitted? 1t was. but was never
known to open carpet bag and hide
away gold bracelet. This produced
laugh at the lawyers expense, and
Mother Tartum clapped her hands for
JOY, while the hairy mole on her chin
was greatly agitated.
The lawyer than asked Halle if she
knew who put the bracelet in the car
pet bag? No, she did not. Did she do
it? NO" very Indignantly.
She WAS dismissed and Mrs. Arnold
isworn. Her examination in chief was
the same as her daughters. Then on
cross examination she admitted that it
was not dark when Helen and "Pete,
the peddler,' came to her house. That
Helen's brother was with her and both
were soaked with rain. That Pete was
a man of good character, and that they
stated that Pete had found Helen and
her little brother under a tree, and he
volunteered to carry the little boy that
far She even thought that there
might be nothing wrong in the coming
. there with Pete. Mother Tartrum at
this point shook her head. Mrs. Ar
mold stated that they had cat, YES
they had an old cat, and that old cat
had two kittens, they We're very play
full kittens too, but she had never
known them to hide things in peoples
Valises, Might not the bracelet have
rolled from the dressing case? 1t
might, she admitted, but it was not
likely to roll into some other persons
carpet bag.
Had she ever heard Helen's character
questioned prior to this event? Well
there had been some rumors. Mother
Tartrum and Grundy nodded thei1
heads approvingly. What were they
She could not repeat them, but they
went to show that she was not as
good as she ought to be.
Speak out, Mrs. Arnold" said Lay.
man, severely. Ibid you, or did YOU
not advise Mrs. Stuart to discharge
herr"
After a moments confusion, she
| stammered, ..yeS"
"And then employed her Your
self?" The lady, still more confused
answered that she did. She left the
witness stand greatly perplexed, but
still clear as to the bracelet being found
in Helen's possession. 1t was found
among some handkerchiefs wrapped
up in piece of blue calico goods
new, and evidently just cut off the
piece. The calico was produced. She
had never seen it before; it was found
in Helen's carpet bag, and Helen
whispered to her attorney that she
had never seen it either, until that fatal
morning. Did not the goods really be-
long to Mrs. Arnold? She said: No
Mother Tartrum next took the stand
and said the "gal was no better than
she art to be-allerS said she'd come
to bad. Was not the least bit surprised
when she heard she'd stole bracelet ;
On cross examination said she didn't
think it nice for % gal to be runnin
about after night with men," What
men had Helen run about with after
night? She heard she went home one
night with Warren Stuart from meetin'
Did not other girls allow young men
to accompany them home from church!
The hairy mole trembled and her eyes
flashed with rage. "Other gals didn't
come to peoples houses with strange
men way after night to stay all night
When had she gone to any ones
house with a strange man? She went
to Judge Arnold's. This was thrown
out with side glance OF fire.
Did not Mrs. Arnold say that Helen
and Pete come there before night
Mother Tartum was caught. Hel
face was dark with wrath. and she left
the stand more hopelessly confused
than Mrs. Arnold. Mother Grundy
came next and was no better
But the discovery of the bracelet in
Helen's carpet bag, and her admission
of the fact to the sheriff fastened the
quilt upon her. The evidence was al
in, and the justice cleared his throat
elevated his glasses and rubbed the tor
of his head, very much as if he had {
painful duty to perform.